Tennis Association Sues Gelora Bung Karno Stadium Management Over Renovations
Jakarta. The Indonesian Tennis Association, or Pelti, has sued the management of the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Senayan, South Jakarta, and several government stakeholders, including Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi, over plans to renovate the stadium ahead of the 2018 Asian Games.
In a civil case filed at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday (18/10), Pelti alleges that the renovation plan will impair Indonesia's tennis prospects as it will result in several facilities being shut down.
Tennis players currently have 18 outdoor and two indoor courts at their disposal in the complex, but the new plan will reduce it to only one indoor and six outdoor courts, with the rest of the space being converted into a baseball stadium. Pelti insists that the new site will make Indonesia unable to host major tennis events at the complex as international standards require at least seven sided courts.
Pelti also cherishes the historicity of the indoor stadium, which was built in 1962 under the instruction of former President Soekarno, when Indonesia hosted the Asian Games.
"The new plan will disrupt our athletes in their preparations for national and international tournaments," Pelti chairman Maman Wiryawan said in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Maman said he was not active in discussions surrounding the renovation plan.
"This lawsuit is our final effort to preserve the historical tennis stadium at Gelora Bung Karno," he said.
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